After the hubbub surrounding the City of Malibu’s decision to subpoena vacation rental websites in order to collect information and unpaid taxes from residents, it appears responses are slowly trickling in.
According to City Attorney Christi Hogin, only a tiny fraction of the more-than-60 sites originally named by the city were issued subpoenas.
“I think five websites had characteristics that were attractive to us for various reasons,” said Hogin.
Among those reasons, according to Hogin, are that they do a lot of business in Malibu and they were sites that carry multiple listings of the same house.
The sites chosen to subpoena include Air BNB, Jet Living, YBYC, Home Away and Trip Advisor, as well as local real estate owner Aaron Shipman.
Of these sites, Hogin reported at Monday night’s City Council meeting, only a couple have fully complied with the city’s requests.
“Air BNB and Jet Living have been very cooperative, and that seems to be going very well,” Hogin told the Council.
However, other sites have not yet fully complied with requests, and the Council voted 5-0 to continue the item until the Sept. 8 meeting before pursuing further legal action against Shipman, YBYC and Trip Advisor’s failure to respond. They also voted to continue Home Away’s subpoena hearing until Nov. 10.
“We have been in contact with their lawyers,” said Hogin, who cited “technical reasons” as why some sites have not been able to comply.
“Can you give us some idea of what you mean by ‘technical reasons?’” asked Councilmember Laura Rosenthal.
“We’re still sorting out which information we need and which rules govern the information that we can get,” responded Hogin.
Hogin repeated her previous statements that the subpoenas are not meant only as a way for the city to collect money.
“We’re not in conflict at all with the websites,” said Hogin, who added, “We want to make sure all the people who are currently playing by the rules … are on the same footing as all the people who are not.”
New media officer introduced
A new media information officer was introduced during Monday night’s meeting.
Matt Myerhoff takes over for Sandi Turner, who left the position in early May.
After Turner’s resignation was announced, information surfaced that she had been working for the city on a part-time basis since January of 2014. However, Myerhoff takes over as a full-time staffer.
The media officer, according to the city’s description, is responsible for managing the City’s social media accounts, sending out press releases, and helping to improve Malibu’s overall image through outreach to the press. The position also calls for working with emergency services coordinator Brad Davis, who is responsible for sending out emergency alerts to residents.
Myerhoff, whose first day on the job was Monday, comes to Malibu from the LA Tourism and Convention Board, where he was corporate communications manager.
He also has experience as a communications director for LA City Councilmembers and as a reporter for the LA Business Journal. Myerhoff is originally from the LA area, growing up in the San Fernando Valley.
Poison free advocates speak out
Four members of Poison Free Malibu spoke at Monday’s meeting, calling for City Council to begin enforcing its policy against anti-coagulant rodenticides in Malibu shopping centers.
The rodenticides, which often come in the form of black “bait boxes,” are meant to kill rats and other rodents considered to be pests. However, they are now known to spread poison up the food chain to harm larger mammals.
“Enforce that dumpsters be closed and areas around them be cleaned,” said PFM founding member Kian Schulman.
“[They should] enforce or be met with penalty,” co-founder Wendi Dunn later echoed.
In response to these demands, Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal suggested that the city look into ways to enforce the ban on rodenticides. However, she also stated that the best means to enforce the rule may not be penalties.
“We should try the carrot before we go with the stick,” said Rosenthal.